Disgrace

Disgrace follows David Lurie, a middle-aged professor in post-apartheid South Africa, whose life unravels after a scandalous affair with a student. Forced to resign, he retreats to his daughter Lucy’s farm, seeking solace in rural simplicity. But their fragile peace is shattered by a violent attack, exposing the raw tensions of a nation grappling with its fractured past. As father and daughter confront betrayal, guilt, and shifting power dynamics, Coetzee’s prose dissects themes of shame, redemption, and the elusive nature of justice. The novel’s stark beauty lies in its unflinching portrayal of human vulnerability and the haunting legacy of colonialism. A Booker Prize winner, Disgrace remains a timeless exploration of identity, morality, and the search for meaning in a world devoid of easy answers.